As Bangkok ushers in the Year of the Goat, all eyes turn to Chinatown. Lanterns and banners dangle above its busy arteries, Yaowarat and Charoen Krung, row after row of yellow and red regalia bobbing on lines like fishing lures. It’s a magical time of year, the turning of the calendar according to the Chinese zodiac.

While the celebrations are in full swing, head out to the old town for the best way to drink in the Chinese New Year festivities: with Pickabooclub’s epic walking tour.

Tradition and Taste in Chinatown

The Thai capital is steeped in tradition, especially when it comes to food. That doubles for Chinatown. Small wonder, then, that Yaowarat Road, the epicenter of incredible Teochew and Hakka cuisine, draws massive crowds during Chinese New Year.

Chinese New Year Gift? Ring in the Year of the Goat in Bangkok with Pickabooclub!

After taking you through narrow alleys, where you’ll explore temples and shophouses, soaking up the rich Mahayana Buddhist culture, the walking tour leads you to foodie paradise on Yaowarat. It’s as much a feast for your eyes as it is your belly.

Roasted chestnuts, fresh-squeezed pomegranate juice, hot woks frying oysters, noodles, and all manner of tasty treats: these are just a snapshot of what’s available to try. For Chinese New Year, the vendors will whip up specialties made to bring good fortune, like sweet cakes, long white noodles, and boiled pig’s head. Make sure to get your hands on some of these treats.

Textiles, Temples, and More

From morning to night, and for over a week, the New Year celebrations turn Chinatown into a theater of dreams. At night, your walking tour might stumble upon a classic Chinese opera, or perhaps you’ll find a parade of dances, drums, and, in the spirit of the coming year, people dressed up in goat costumes.

Beneath the surface of the festivities, you’ll discover the mystique of the old town, the very qualities that set it apart from the rest of the city. Old textile shops line the road. Pharmacies that smell of sweet and spicy herbs set up in family-run shophouses.

It’s a real treat, one best experienced by foot, because on a walking tour, you can move slowly, stop when your curiosity is piqued, and get hands-on with history.

Stroll into the Lunar New Year with Pickabooclub!

With the Smile Agent, you’ll feel the vibrancy of Chinatown like never before, and all during the most exciting and auspicious days of the year!